Over the Christmas period Hen Lane District and Social Club was the setting for the annual Coventry Christmas Open, which had a total pay-out of £1600 for both a singles and doubles knockout.
In the semi-finals of the singles Warwickshire’s Chris Wickenden beat Lincolnshire’s Lloyd Pennell 5-0 and from the other side of the draw, another Warwickshire player, Nigel Heydon beat Worcestershire’s Graham Hall 5-4 to set up an all-Warwickshire final.
The final saw Chris Wickenden storm to a 5-0 win over Nigel Heydon to see Wickenden retain the title for a second successive year.
After his win Wickenden said “Back to back Coventry Christmas Open champion. So happy to win this again and more importantly how solid I played throughout the day”.
Wickenden went on to say “Unfortunately we lost in the pairs final earlier on. Just need to keep my arm going now and carry this form into January, thanks to Neil Pritchard and Sarah West for running a great 97 man competition”.
Chris then paired up with Sam Whittaker in the doubles event and in the last four games they won 4-0 against Neil Pullen and Alex Young while another Warwickshire duo Zac Prince and Jason Prince made their exit losing 4-0 to Worcestershire’s Graham Hall and Thomas Garfield.
The double was not meant to be as he final went to the wire with Hall and Garfield just getting the 5-4 edge on Wickenden and Whittaker.
Singles Open:
Last 32:- Dave Hill 2 Lloyd Pennell 4, Ryan Saunders 0 Adam Beck 4, Andy Courtney 1 Dave Pallet 4, Harry Earp 4 Jimmy Hill 3, Thomas Garfield 4 Martin Partridge 1, Simon Hicks 2 Alex Bruce 4, Martin Tonks 1 Chris Wickenden 4, Charlie Symons 4 Rich Mills 1, Lee Miller 3 Ian McFarlane 4, Matt Gallett 4 Marian Conway 1, Adam Hancock 4 Rich Hosey 3, Adam Warner 0 Graham Hall 4, Michael Spencer 0 Matty Washbrooke 4, Lloyd Jackson 0 Nigel Heydon 4, Jenson Walker 4 Mark Carter 0, Steve Sharp 2 Karl Reynolds 4,
Last 16:- Lloyd Pennell 4 Adam Beck 2, Dave Pallett 3 Harry Earp 4, Thomas Garfield 4 Alex Bruce 1, Chris Wickenden 4 Charlie Symons 1, Ian McFarlane 4 Matt Gallett 3, Adam Hancock 1 Graham Hall 4, Matty Washbrooke 1 Nigel Heydon 4, Jenson Walker 4 Karl Reynolds 1
Quarter-Finals:- Lloyd Pennell 4 Harry Earp 1, Thomas Garfield 3 Chris Wickenden 4, Ian McFarlane 0 Graham Hall 4, Nigel Heydon 4 Jenson Walker 3,
Semi-Finals:- Lloyd Pennell 0 Chris Wickenden 5, Graham Hall 4 Nigel Heydon 5,
Final:- Chris Wickenden 5 Nigel Heydon 0,
Doubles Open:
Last 16: – Dave Hill / Dave Honey 3 Sam Matthews / Anthony Griffin 4, Neil Pullen / Alex Young 4 Rob O’Meara / Dave Atkins 3, Sam Whittaker / Chris Wickenden 4 Lloyd Pennell / Adam Beck 1, Liam Mulryne / Ryan Saunders 3 Dave Pallett / Taylor McGuckian 4, Alex Bruce / Gareth Iliffe 3 Darren Swords / Jenson Walker 4, Lee Miller / Antony Allen 1 Zac Prince / Jason Prince 4, Adam Gallett / Matt Gallett 2 Graham Hall / Thomas Garfield 4, Nigel Heydon / Charlie Symons 4 Wayne Mynard / Karl Reynolds 0,
Quarter-Finals:- Sam Matthews / Anthony Griffin 0 Neil Pullen / Alex Young 4, Sam Whittaker / Chris Wickenden 4 Dave Pallett / Taylor McGuckian 0, Darren Swords / Jenson Walker 2 Zac Prince / Jason Prince 4, Graham Hall / Thomas Garfield 4 Nigel Heydon / Charlie Symons 3,
Semi-Finals:- Neil Pullen / Alex Young 1 Sam Whittaker / Chris Wickenden 4, Zac Prince / Jason Prince 0 Graham Hall / Thomas Garfield 4,
Final:- Sam Whittaker / Chris Wickenden 4 Graham Hall / Thomas Garfield 5.
—–ENDS—–
Venue – Hen Lane District and Social Club , 6 Beacon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DS
Words – Alan Towe
Images: as Supplied
